Compare towns
Sprague vs Killingly vs Sterling vs Bethlehem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sprague has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Killingly has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most expensive homes ($411k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Sprague | Killingly | Sterling | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,962Lowest |
17,867Highest |
3,629 |
3,423 |
| Median age | 48.5±10.7 18% above CT |
39.5±3 4% below CT |
39.4±5.9Lowest 4% below CT |
51.5±8.5Highest 25% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5.4 CT: 20.2% |
19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
22.8%±5.9Highest CT: 20.2% |
16.3%±4Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.9 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±2.4 CT: 18.5% |
13%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±5.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bethlehem and Sprague are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2% CT: 42.5% |
22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
39.2%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest CT: 7.1% |
5.4%±1.9Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.5%±3.1 CT: 7.1% |
| Killingly and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,850±$11k 3% below CT |
$84,350±$8kLowest 12% below CT |
$102,695±$12k 7% above CT |
$108,929±$16kHighest 14% above CT |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,500±$17kLowest 25% below CT |
$288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$283,400±$17k 23% below CT |
$410,900±$36kHighest 12% above CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,247±$144Highest 16% below CT |
$1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
— | $1,127±$124 24% below CT |
| Sprague and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,668 30% below CT |
$3,922Lowest 41% below CT |
$4,551 31% below CT |
$5,932Highest 11% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±12.2Lowest CT: 52.6% |
42.8%±10.9 CT: 52.6% |
32%±18.1 CT: 52.6% |
69.7%±38.5Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Bethlehem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.4%Highest CT: 10% |
8.3% CT: 10% |
10.4% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
71.6% CT: 66.5% |
81.1%Highest CT: 66.5% |
70.2% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 8 yrs older than CT |
1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above CT |
28 minLowest 5% above CT |
35 minHighest 34% above CT |
29 min 9% above CT |
| Work from home | 5%±2.9Lowest CT: 16% |
11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
11.6%±6.4 CT: 16% |
13.9%±5Highest CT: 16% |
| Bethlehem and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #141 of 149 in CT | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #82 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Sprague School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | Regional School District 14 |
| High school in town | None in town | Killingly High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.